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Healthcare Workers Safety and Health

April 2008

NIOSH Docket Number 135

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health requested public comment on the content and conduct of two separate but related national surveys, one of healthcare workers' safety and health practices and the other of employer safety and health practices. The goal of the healthcare worker survey is to collect information describing exposures, safety and health practices, and use of exposure controls for several targeted hazards including chemotherapeutic drugs, chemical sterilants, high level disinfectants, anesthetic gases, surgical smoke, aerosolized medications, and cleaning and disinfection agents. The goal of the management survey is to collect information describing facility-based health and safety resources, safety and health management programs, policies and practices for the same health and safety hazards covered in the worker survey.

In response to needs cited by stakeholders for hazard and exposure surveillance data in the healthcare industry, national surveys of healthcare workers and management are being planned as part of the NIOSH surveillance research program. The comments and information submitted to the docket will be considered in assessing appropriate methods of conducting the surveys and in refining draft survey questionnaires which are available below.